Workers dreaming of their summer getaway this year may want to think again
after a report warned four in ten staff return from their holiday feeling
more stressed than when they left.

A study by the Institute of Leadership and Management has revealed that 40pc of workers do not come back to the office feeling more relaxed, with 90pc worried they will return to a deluge of emails. A third of staff work while away on annual leave to try to stay ahead of their heavy workloads, the study of 2,500 managers found.

Of those who work while on leave, 80pc frequently respond to emails on their Blackberries or Smartphones, almost half take phone calls and one in ten even go into the office.

Penny de Valk, chief executive of the ILM, said: "Gone are the days when people cut off contact with work for a fortnight over the summer and made a complete break. While technology means that it is easier than ever to work remotely, it also makes it extremely hard to switch off. Uncertain economic times also mean that many UK employers are keeping one eye on their job at all times, when what they really need is time away from the office to rest and re-energise.”

On average it takes employees two days to unwind while on holiday, the survey found. Some 10pc said it took them a week before they felt able to fully de-stress.

Ms. De Valk added: “It is a real concern that so many employees return to the office after annual leave feeling more stressed than when they left. This anxiety is almost certainly due to the high workloads we anticipate returning to, and the fear of what might be waiting for us when we get back."